FORT WORTH, Texas, March 26, 2012 – The first night refueling in the history of the Lockheed Martin F-35 program was completed Thursday at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Piloted by U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Peter Vitt, AF-4, an F-35A conventional takeoff and landing variant, rendezvoused with an Air Force KC-135 tanker and successfully received fuel through the F-35’s boom receptacle. Vitt’s sortie lasted more than three hours. In addition to qualifying with the KC-135, the F-35 Integrated Test Force at Edwards AFB will also conduct night refueling tests with the KC-10.

"Uploaded by alert5 on Feb 1, 2009
LTJG Royal Polk Gordon IV and LT Joesph Pommerer decided to compose and sing this song to their KC-135 crew while taking fuel on their Tomcat for the last time Feb. 7 2006."

"Photo by Tom Reynolds: The F-35 flight test program aerial refueled for the first time at night on 22 March 2012. USAF Lt. Col. Peter Vitt was the pilot for the flight from Edwards AFB, California. The mission, which lasted 3.1 hours, marked Flight 103 for F-35A AF-4. The aircraft was refueled from an Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker."

Tom Burbage stated ours will be the exact same configuration as the USAF ones, so I suspect unless there is a huge investment from Australia in getting the hose and drogue refuelling system integrated on the -A model (unlikely in our funding climate) that ours will be boom capable only.

Which is no doubt why Airbus are offering us special "mate's rates" on additional KC-30A boom equipped refuellers.

That and our force posture review has already recommended we acquire up to 3 more.

Tom Burbage stated ours will be the exact same configuration as the USAF ones, so I suspect unless there is a huge investment from Australia in getting the hose and drogue refuelling system integrated on the -A model (unlikely in our funding climate) that ours will be boom capable only.

Which is no doubt why Airbus are offering us special "mate's rates" on additional KC-30A boom equipped refuellers.

That and our force posture review has already recommended we acquire up to 3 more.

Yes, I noted Burbage's testimony in the other thread and agree the it's probably the boomfor the RAAF.

"Uploaded by airboyd on Mar 3, 2012
Video by Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Curtin U.S. Air Forces Central Public Affairs
Members attached to the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron refuel aircraft over Afghanistan."

"The Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transports are five Airbus A330s that have been modified for air-to-air refueling and personnel transport. KC-30As will be capable of refueling F/A-18 Hornets, F-111s, Airborne Early Warning and Control Wedgetails and Joint Strike Fighters, or transporting troops domestically or internationally.

The aircraft will be fitted with Aerial Refueling Boom System (ARBS), comprising a 'fly-by-wire' boom refuel system and all-electric probe-and-drogue systems. In its transport role, the KC-30A will be capable of carrying 270 passengers. Under-floor cargo compartments will be able to accommodate 34,000kgs of military and civilian cargo pallets and containers.

Advanced mission systems will also be fitted. They include the Link 16 real-time data-link, military communications and navigation suites, and an electronic warfare self-protection system for protection against threats from surface-to-air missiles."

"The Royal Australian Air Force KC-30A Multi Role Tanker Transports are five Airbus A330s that have been modified for air-to-air refueling and personnel transport. KC-30As will be capable of refueling F/A-18 Hornets, F-111s, Airborne Early Warning and Control Wedgetails and Joint Strike Fighters, or transporting troops domestically or internationally.

The aircraft will be fitted with Aerial Refueling Boom System (ARBS), comprising a 'fly-by-wire' boom refuel system and all-electric probe-and-drogue systems. In its transport role, the KC-30A will be capable of carrying 270 passengers. Under-floor cargo compartments will be able to accommodate 34,000kgs of military and civilian cargo pallets and containers.

Advanced mission systems will also be fitted. They include the Link 16 real-time data-link, military communications and navigation suites, and an electronic warfare self-protection system for protection against threats from surface-to-air missiles."